a place to sit

a place to sit

A place to sit, read, chat, contemplate, observe nature…. A built-in seating area can take advantage of a small nook, or become a central design feature. Here is a couple of examples we have worked into projects:

Window Seat at Kenilworth Kitchen – The renovation of a period red-brick house in Harold’s Cross entailed moving the kitchen into the rear living space. A timber seat is located here at the window. Our clients wanted a space for the children to do homework or sit and read. It also facilitates somebody sitting with a coffee whilst another cooks. It is very simply constructed from oiled iroko timber and is fixed to the wall with metal angles. The space below provides an area for book and toy storage.

Recessed Cedar Seat – This seat is built into the depth of a timber clad wall in a new house in Co. Leitrim. Imagine: cup of coffee, newspapers, views across Lough Melvin, shelter from onshore winds, warm sun (hopefully), and the smell of the cedar boarding as you are sitting and relaxing.

In our farmhouse extension project we introduced 2 benches. The first to encounter is external – under the cover of the deep roof eaves. Here you can sit and remove wet gear before entering the house, or simply enjoy views across the lawn towards the woodland.

The next is just inside the entrance door – where you can take off boots and coats. Both are constructed of oiled iroko timber which forms part of the restrained palette of materials for the scheme.

Cottage Nook – In this renovation project at a cottage in Wicklow, a double-height Kitchen-Dining-Living space includes a new window to the cottage gable – to take advantage of spectacular views of the garden and beyond. Under this window we slotted in a simple birch ply bench which creates a private reading nook in what is otherwise a very open and sociable space.